With its latest update, WhatsApp users are finding a new icon app appear when they connect to CarPlay. A WhatsApp icon and basic on-screen app interface are now part of the CarPlay experience, beyond what was already offered by WhatsApp's SiriKit integration.

You can't browse a list of conversations, but you can tap on the icon to start sending a new message using dictation.
Notifications from WhatsApp also appear in the CarPlay UI and users can tap to listen and respond.

CarPlay is a technology being built into many new cars (aftermarket solutions available) to bring the most essential parts of the iPhone experience to the in-car display.

The CarPlay app for WhatsApp will be badged with the number of new unread messages. Notifications appear onscreen with the name of the sender; users can tap to hear Siri speak the contents of the message. WhatsApp also appears in the multitasking bar in the CarPlay sidebar, in the slot for messaging and phone apps. This allows users to quickly switch between tasks whilst driving.

It would be nice if the app was more capable, although a lot of this is dependent on Apple improving the CarPlay APIs it exposes to developers.